Thing to do out of the house with 2 under 2 without spending money?

[nuclearsatsuma]

Getting stuck for ideas! When its too cold to go to the park etc, how do you entertain them?

My dd is 21 months and ds is 6 months. Dd hates staying at home, will walk for quiet a long time, has a fairly short attention span, but is very well behaved in general. ds is now at the age where just sitting in his pushchair is boring.

Anyone in a similar situation or got any good ideas?

ta

where do you live and have you been and looked on mumsnet local?

does it have to be inside? Could check out museums etc.

I bung them in the bath with a load of toys and bubbles.

Do you go to any mum and toddler/baby groups? Try your local Children's Information Service for lists of all the groups in your area. We have early years centres which run loads of activities for pre schoolers, and most things are free. I usually try and go to one group a day to get out of the house.

Also libraries do baby bounce and rhyme singing sessions.

And I think it's never too cold for the park - just need more cosy clothes. The only thing that stops me is heavy rain!

I live in North Norfolk, no haven't been on there yet, will have to check it out. We have a mums and tots group we go to twice a week, but dds afternoon nap often gets in the way. we go to tiny talk baby signing once a week which I love. Just wanted some more ideas dd likes to be really busy. She doesn't leave me alone at home will not play on her own. follows me everywhere!

Thanks all

You could start something of your own, like a coffee morning with other mums at your house and at other mums' houses. Don't be shy about asking for 'playdates'. Is there a 'SureStart' group in your area? Local library? My library always has paper/crayons and it's a good place to meet up with other mums. Some churches in my area run playgroups - a good place to check as well.

And you could get a book with ideas of what games to play with your 2 yo - my DS is very much into hispainting and glittering at the moment. Sometimes we bake a cake in the morning when we have nothing to do he loves mixing the stuff. It's hard to think of activities all the time and keep them entertained without spending money! Doing the washing up (a large bowl with a bit of water and hisplastic tea set) can keep him occupied for a little while.

feed the ducks, take the bottles to the bottle bank, stand on a bridge and watch trains / trucks go by, take the car to the car wash, watch planes if you are near an air field. at this age most things we think mundane are an adventure. DS1 was just like your DD (he is now 7 and hasn't changed much)I used to do all sorts of stuff my friends thought were bonkers to keep him occupied but he was happy just to be out of the house.

watch trains, pets at home to look at the animals, feed ponies, feed ducks, go to Toys R Us and let the kids play on bikes, ride ons etc. (leave credit card at home), park, bike ride, walk to collect leaves etc, garden play - bubbles, library for books or under fives session, play dates with other little ones

splashing in puddles - wellies, umbrellas etc. on very wet days

go anywhere by bus then come back

go anywhere by bus then come back

Bookshops, like a Waterstones with a children's section. Carpet and sit on the floor, looking at books. Then to the coffee shop - coffee for you and snacks you bring along for the children (healthier and saves costs).

Following on from Blueshoes' suggestion. Borders used to do a Saturday morning storytime session. You could check out your local one?

Also, your library may do a storytime session aswell. I used to go once a week as a child myself and loved it.

Second Poppychick's idea on the toy shop. On rainy days I take my 2 year old twins to a giant ELC - there are loads of toy kitchens and ride-on things set out and plenty of kids to play with. I am sure they think it's a play group! IKEA is also fun, we bounce on the beds, rampage through the toy section and have a very cheap lunch in the cafe (they probably have an identikit photo of us by the front door as I rarely buy anything

Loads of free play ideas here. My guys are amused for ages with inane things like plopping stones into a bucket, watering the garden or "painting" the patio stones with water and a paintbrush. Homemade playdough and colouring-in print outs from the CBeebies site also help fill a rainy afternoon.

Thanks everyone, loads of really good suggestions. enough to keep her busy till she's at school me thinks!

I'm just looking forward to when my ds is old enough to play with her then they can entertain each other.

Be nice to be able to go to the loo without being followed!!!

Have you ever made up some playdough? That usually keeps mine amused for a bit.

I still get followed to the loo and mine are 9 and 6. I locked the door the other day and a note was pushed under it No peace is there!

bought some cheap modelling clay but she just pulls it into tiny pieces, tells me to put it away then yells at me for putting it away.

9 and 6! no peace for years yet then! boo!

bought some cheap modelling clay but she just pulls it into tiny pieces, tells me to put it away then yells at me for putting it away.

9 and 6! no peace for years yet then! boo!